4

Is it the general belief that Nach is unchanged since it was written? That the transmission of Nach is as reliable as that of Torah? What types of methods are in place to ensure its accuracy and authenticity? For example, a Torah is disqualified if even a single letter was added/deleted, must be entirely copied from another scroll, the scribe must be trained and learned, and other checks and balances. Does the writing down of Nach require the same?

Improve this question
1

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

"Is it the general belief that Nach is unchanged since it was written? "

No.

Nach is not as strictly recorded as the Torah is. The DeadSea scrolls for example show many variants on Nach. And you will notice in Nach many "corrections" marked in the mikrot gdolot. The differences between various versions of Nach are not extreme though. I.e. there is no version that praises something, and another version that condems it. The average person reading through all the manuscripts of Nach, without a critical eye, likely would not even notice there are differences.

Improve this answer
7
  • Many editions of tanach print lists of differences in the back too.
    – Yitzchak
    Dec 27, 2013 at 2:33
  • 2
    Just because the Dead Sea scrolls changed the text doesn't mean we did
    – ertert3terte
    Dec 27, 2013 at 2:35
  • @ShmuelBrin And in fact, many of the most noticeable changes in the Dead Sea scrolls (namely מלא spellings like כול, לוא, etc.) are clearly later additions.
    – user3318
    Dec 27, 2013 at 3:02
  • @ShmuelBrin Correct. That doesn't change anything about the answer though. The traditional Jewish view is that none of our texts are precisely original.
    – Double AA ♦
    Dec 27, 2013 at 3:43
  • 1
    @DoubleAA in that case, just source is wrong.
    – ertert3terte
    Dec 27, 2013 at 4:16

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .